The Council for Advancement and Support of Education announced the winners of its 2007 Independent Schools Awards. The recipients were selected for their extraordinary commitment to primary and independent education.
The awards will be presented during the opening ceremonies of the 37th annual CASE_NAIS Independent School Conference being held Jan. 28-30 in Philadelphia.
American Honda Motor Company of Torrance, CA, is the winner of the John R. Chandler Award, which recognizes the long-term contributions of a corporation or foundation to independent schools. American Honda was nominated by Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center for its unprecedented philanthropic support of such an educational venture.
Some context:American Honda Motor Company set out in May 1989 to find opportunities to further its long-term commitment of contributing to society in an area unrelated to the company’s daily business needs. Through careful research, the vision that became Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center was created.
That vision was of a school that would intervene in the lives of young people by promoting community, integrity and citizenship. Through relationships with school districts and institutions of higher education, Eagle Rock would offer professional development opportunities to help strengthen other schools locally and nationally.
American Honda Education Corporation was founded as a nonprofit corporation in February 1991 and shortly thereafter the Head of School was hired. The development of the program began to take shape with the hiring of the Directors of Curriculum, Students and Operations and the first group of Instructional Specialists.
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held in September 1992. The first group of students arrived in September 1993 to begin their studies and to participate in the design of the school&supl;s culture and program. The school held it’s grand opening in September 1994 and celebrated its first graduates in April 1995